Album Review - The Fascinating Thinking Machine
Album: The Fascinating Thinking Machine
The Fascinating Thinking Machine is not a very good pop record; or at least by today’s standards. The lyrics are contemplative and deep, the music incorporates elements of ‘80s pop, soft jazz, and adult contemporary rock, the instrumentation is varied, and the vocals are often gentle and expressive. Compare that to other pop fare in 2014 and Kicklighter’s release just doesn’t fit in; but that’s exactly the way it’s supposed to be.
Kicklighter is the name given to the work of singer-songwriter and guitarist, Everett Young. Disappointed with the current state of pop music, he seeks to change the musical landscape as much as he can through his dynamic songwriting and musical sound. At its best, The Fascinating Thinking Machine incorporates elements of different genres with relative ease, at its worst, it sounds a little unfocused and loses some of its creative steam in the latter half.
“Until You See The Sun” opens the record with a set of ominous keyboards and strings. Before long it transitions into a peppier synthpop melody that matches a plucky and funky guitar riff with atmospheric keys. In this regard it resembles earlier Tears For Fears output in the best possible way. And like that group, Kicklighter is able to craft a series of relentless hooks, propelled with a youthful intensity.
The following track, “Says a Tender Mind” is similarly hooky with its strong drum kick, rumbling guitar, and various keyboards. Young utilizes a slightly different vocal tone, one that seems to speak from experience when he sings, “This is a world without any right angles…” The track does an excellent job of showcasing some of the quality musicianship here by coupling together a keyboard solo that segues into a brief but stirring guitar solo. It effectively hits all the notes it needs to with just the right degree of sophistication.
That sophistication takes center stage on the provocative follow-up, “Building a Robot.” Here we have Kicklighter opening with acoustic guitar, and though the song moves into a fuller arrangement, it’s one that’s less keyboard adorned than the ones prior. Young’s vocals are soothing and his lyrics probe various elements of humanity juxtaposed with imagery of building a machine. The piece is remarkably insightful, bolstered by the catchy yet mildly sad melody.
Continuing the streak of excellence is a one-two combination of slightly jazz tinged pieces, “The Sultan of Brunei” and “After The Healing.” The former is a rather eclectic piece, notable for its memorable vocal hook and smooth mood. The icing on the cake is another well executed guitar solo; further evidence of Kicklighter’s instrumental talents. “After The Healing” takes the album in a completely different direction, entering into a lush, orchestral place where the soft jazz tones are met with stirring strings and emotional piano. In many ways it’s the album’s centerpiece, given how powerfully conceived the lyric is and how perfectly matched it is to the melody.
The rest of the album doesn’t quite live up to the punch of the first half. For example, “When Howie Dressed Me Down” has a funky little riff and sports another strong guitar solo but it’s not as memorable as something like “Says a Tender Mind.” And “The Professor” for its exotic steel drum sounds, layered guitars and vocal change-up don’t hit home as hard as “Sultan of Brunei.” That’s not to say that either of these songs are bad by any means they’re just not as comparatively strong.
It’s worth noting that The Fascinating Thinking Machine closes on a beautifully poignant note entitled, “Saying Goodbye.” The entire song is soft and soothing, serviced well by the soft keys and harmonica. Young’s voice is very subdued and wistful; it’s contemplatively looking back, and the soft guitar that underscores his vocals carries a serene tone along with it.
If this is too much of a somber note for some to round the album off on, there’s still the bonus track, “The Libertarian.” It’s easy to see why it was left off the general track list, as its bouncy, playful, yet rocking nature doesn’t quite fit in and around the other ten tracks. Its inclusion is appreciated however as the song is terrifically engaging, fun, and sports more full and approximate rhymes for libertarian than you would ever have thought of.
Kicklighter accomplished exactly what it set out to do by creating and releasing The Fascinating Thinking Machine. This album is frequently brilliant and never anything less than good. Everett Young shows wonderful talent as a musician and songwriter throughout the record and the depth of what he creates is often only matched by its beauty. Even if the first half of the album, and the first two songs especially sport a stronger series of hooks, the remainder is still creative, entertaining, and bristling with energy. Kicklighter has a heck of a job ahead of itself if it wants to influence popular music today, but this album is a powerful step in the right direction.
Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5)
